Russia and Turkey Exchange Shelling in Northern Syria

According to a war monitor, one- time allies Russia and Turkey have exchanged fire against each other in Syria.

Russian forces based in the Syrian province of Raqqa have carried out bombing against Turkish forces, and the factions loyal to them, based in North Syria, according to the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, on Thursday November 28th.

In a report the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the Russian base fired about five shells on the positions of factions loyal to Turkey, while Turkish forces fired about a similar five shells, which landed in the vicinity of the Russian base.

The Syrian Observatory also learned that a meeting between the Russian forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took place on Thursday morning, November 28th, where Russia confirmed that if the Turkish forces and their factions do not retreat and withdraw, they will bomb them.

Russia is participating in security arrangements in northern Syria, during which a buffer zone has been secured between Turkish forces, their loyalist factions on the one hand, and the SDF.

On Ocober 9th, Turkey launched a military operation in northern Syria, with the aim of undermining the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) by penetrating 30 to 35 kilometres (21 miles) into Syrian territory and establishing a safe area.

However, it suspended its military incursion, under pressure from US and Russia, both intervened to start a 30-kilometre buffer zone in northern Syria, in an attempt to reduce Turkey’s fears of the presence of Kurdish factions on its borders

Source: Russia and Turkey Exchange Shelling in Northern Syria